Cry For Tomorrow (12 page)

“And we went and walked right into his trap,” moaned Jennie.

Rainor nodded. “Right. I hadn’t planned to reveal myself just yet, but then, I couldn’t let him murder you all, either.”

When he paused to let us absorb the facts he’d been throwing at us, I leaned in closer so that I could watch his eyes when I talked to him. “Okay, let me see if I have this right. What you’re saying is that you’re from the same dimension as these phantoms that have been tormenting us since the time of the quakes and you’ve been sent here in an effort to recruit psis to help you—help you do what?”

“Well, that does simplify it, but yes. I’m sure you are all aware of the sudden increase in the number of what you’re calling
phantoms
flowing into your world in the last few months. What you do not know is that soon the two worlds will actually come into physical contact. There are two possible results to this. One is that the uncontrolled collision will tear the curtain separating the dimensions, and result in massive explosions and major death and damage on both worlds. It will also leave you vulnerable to an invasion by the phantoms and ghouls, which will have been made insane by the chemical reaction.” He held out a hand to calm us when we became alarmed.

“Please, there is an alternative. There
is
a way for us to gently guide and control this merging of the dimensions which will not damage the curtain but allow it to slowly melt into your atmosphere. A slow release of the chemicals will calm the phantoms and allow them to peacefully co-habitat with the humans of your world.”

“But how can two worlds occupy the same space? It seems impossible,” I demanded.

“No, not impossible,” Rainor insisted. “Tereus is less dense than the over-world and it is believed that the two will merge in such a way that there is just
more
of both worlds—deeper oceans and more distance between land masses. After the initial shock waves, everything should settle down and the result will be one larger world peacefully occupied by the beings of both.” Pausing to get his breath and to compose himself, Rainor watched us as we tried to digest what he’d been telling us.

The agent’s intense scrutiny was making me uneasy. I understood his sense of urgency but this was a lot to digest. Pulling Dusty to me, I wrapped my arms around her neck. I needed a few minutes to gather my thoughts. When I’d stopped shaking, I faced the stranger again and asked, “What about the governments on both worlds? Are they aware of what’s happening?”

“Oh yes, the governing bodies of your world, and mine, too, are very much aware of this situation,” he told us with a deep frown, “and the problem is the same for both the over-world and Tereus. There are two factions, each believing their own appraisal of the situation to be correct. Of those governing bodies gathered on the Main Island to deal with the situation, there are those who do not wish to interfere with the natural tendencies of the ghouls. They believe that they should be allowed to pass through unaltered. Others welcome the chance to bring the violent natures of these beings under control. There are also seriously different appraisals of predicted results. Some believe that allowing the uncontrolled collision will result in Tereus gaining control during the resulting confusion and believe that the damage to life or property will be minimal. Others insist that the destruction of the curtain will cause massive devastation and loss of life on both worlds. The only thing that all can agree on is that the merging
must
happen. Life on Tereus is dying without the light we need to live and the populations of both worlds have dwindled due to the increased radiation caused by the proximity of the two worlds.”

“You mean that the politicians of
our
world are aware of all this—
have been
aware all along that this event was happening in our very near future, and they haven’t told anybody?” interrupted Jennie indignantly.

“Yes. In fact, I am quite sure that they were aware of the impending problem even before the dimensions made first contact and the massive earthquakes and sun flares began. From what I was able to glean from this Sanders person, it is apparent that the ruling governments across your whole world have gone to great lengths to keep the public from becoming fully aware of the situation.” He nodded his head at a pair of freaks sliding through the shadows of some buildings across from us, watching them until they disappeared down a dark alley, “The only part of your population aware in any true way are those poor souls. In some part of their warped minds they sense the existence of this adjoining world and are being driven mad by the electronic harmonics it has caused within their brains.”

“Unfortunately for everyone,” he looked meaningfully at the girls, “it’s the aid of the telekinetic people like them and you that is required by both factions to bring about their preferred result.”

“And which faction do you represent?” I managed to get the words past the fear gripping my throat.

“I represent those in favor of a slow merging and the nullification of the ghouls.” Rainor resumed his pacing and left us to think about what he had told us.

For several long moments, Jennie, Kelly and I could only stare quietly at each other as we tried to digest all the information we’d just been bombarded with.

“Hey, Halie,” whispered Kelly, “do you think all that stuff he just told us is true?”

“I don’t know, sis.” I shook my head. “What I do know is that something weird has been going on with the ghouls lately.”

“Yeah, and what about those wraiths we saw at Rosa’s? They were almost human looking,” added Jennie.

“Right, and there have been rumors on the grapevine that there’s something big going on with the agents, and we know that both the government and the Company have stepped up their recruiting lately.” I turned to Jennie and asked, “Have you heard any rumors at the university about this other dimension?”

“Well yes, but I thought it was just more egg-head theorizing. You know how they can be—everyone has a theory, or two, about the cause of the quakes and the appearance of the phantoms, but no matter what the theory is or who is presenting it, the government continues to deny everything.” Jennie raised her hands and shrugged her shoulders in resignation.

“You know what? I still want another opinion and some more in-put on what our new friend, Rainor, has been telling us so, how about if we go and find the guys and tell them what’s happened?” Sliding off the edge of the table, I brushed off the seat of my jeans. I felt a little bit better now that I had something to focus on.

We were still gathering the younger children when Rainor returned. “You have come to a decision?” he queried anxiously.

“Well, yeah, sort of. We’ve decided that we’d like to discuss this with our other roommates before we make any kind of commitment,” I told him. “Can we maybe meet you somewhere later tonight and bring them with us?”

Rainor frowned and studied our faces. It was easy to read the indecision flashing across his pale features and I knew he was afraid he might never see us again.

“I understand,” he said after a moment of hesitation. “Your friends—you’re sure that they can be trusted not to betray our confidence to the authorities?”

“Yes, of course, they would never do something like that,” insisted Jennie in an insulted voice.

“Very well, where shall we meet?” Rainor tapped his fingers on the rough surface of the table..

“I know, how about Pelican Pier?” I volunteered. “There’s enough activity to give us a little security.” I cast guilty eyes at the agent.
Agent
that was the word I wanted to keep to the forefront of my mind. We knew only what this man had told us. It could all be just an elaborate trap meant to snare the boys as well as a couple of girls and kids.

“Yes,” agreed Jennie, “it’s still private and inner-city enough that it will be safe to talk. Company people and those from the upper-city don’t socialize in that part of town.”

“Good. Tell me how to find this Pelican Pier, and I’ll meet you all there at, let’s see, is ten o’clock a good time for you? You’ll have enough time to locate and speak with your friends?” Rainor asked anxiously. The look in his eyes told me that he was very much aware that he just might lose us all right now but I saw the war going on in his mind, for he also knew that if we did return with our friends and were willing to seriously listen to him, he might have finally found his way into the well-guarded ranks of the psis that had gone underground.

I hurriedly gave him directions. I wanted us away from this area as fast as possible.

When we were well out of hearing and reach, I turned my head, looking back over my shoulder at the grey agent where he still sat, staring after us. I should have felt relieved that he had really let us leave but I didn’t—what I did feel was very, very worried that our world was about to change in some very serious ways.

Kelly tugged at my arm to hurry me toward the bus-stop and the bus rumbling toward us and I was forced to put my fears away for the moment.

“Wow! Do you believe this? He really let us go!” gasped Kelly as she slid into the seat next to me. The driver rang his bell loudly to announce that he was about to resume his trek across town.

With the giant tele-screen uncharacteristically silent, the jerk and rattle of the moving car were almost soothing after the tension of the last few hours. Unfortunately this break in tension also gave me time to think about all of the things that had been happening so fast. I swiped at the tears escaping down my cheeks with my shirt-sleeve. I still could not believe what had happened to Rosa and Jack. I was truly going to miss them.

The two small children had their heads together, jabbering softly to each other, but Jennie, Kelly and I were silent, each absorbed in our own thoughts as we rode across the upper city toward the University library where Carl had said he would be. Zack and Jake were on the far side of the city at the electronics warehouse and, even if we’d been willing to make the trek, it would have taken forever to locate them in the acres and acres of old appliances and machinery.

“Last stop for the University!” the driver declared over the loud speaker.

Our reverie rudely broken by the announcement, Jennie and I hurriedly gathered the younger children and dog and headed for the doorway. It seemed like days ago, rather than just this morning, that we had disembarked with our carts and backpacks and headed off to the market.

The bus hissed and jerked to a full stop and people began scuffling for the doors.

“Let’s go,” Jennie said as she took Merry’s hand. “With any luck, Carl will still be at the library studying at this hour.”

“Our stuff—” I gasped. Jen and I both jerked to a stop as we realized that we had left our things behind at the house when we’d run from the agents.

Her eyes big with apprehension, Jennie, stared at me. “Oh Halie! What if they can trace our things back to the apartments?”

“Do you think there’s a chance?
Think!
What did we have in them?” I tugged at little Jon’s hand and dragged him to the side of a nearby building where I leaned against the wall to keep my shaking knees from giving out. “I didn’t have anything with my name on it, only a couple of small pieces of etched copper that we didn’t sell this morning. Surely they can’t trace us from that.” I turned to Jennie, expecting a similar look of relief.

“Jen?”

“Oh Halie,” she gasped. “I had the receipts for Maude and Claire in my pack. You know how they are, everything must be done the
proper way
. Th-their names an-and ours were on them.”

“But surely they don’t have our address or anything, right?” I insisted desperately.

“No, only our first names, but the ladies always insisted that their names, first and last, be correctly spelled on the slips,” her eyes were big with worry. “Ev-everybody at the market knows the ladies and where they live, an-and we’ve told the ladies all about our apartments several times.”

“Yeah, but they still don’t have an address or anything, right?” Kelly interjected insistently.

“No, but then, how many apartment buildings in the old city have intact greenhouses on their roofs?” I answered tersely. “I think we’d better find Carl and then set off the alarms to bring Zack and Jake home. We’ll have at least until morning before they can seriously start scanning the roof-tops in the old city.”

“Right, and we can be packed and out of there before daylight,” gritted Jennie.

Kelly’s eyes had been growing bigger with every word of our conversation and now she burst into tears. “Oh, Sissy, I’m sooo sorry,” she sobbed. “It’s all
my
fault that you have to leave your nice home!”

I wrapped an arm around my sister’s shoulders and started walking toward the campus. “Hey, it wasn’t you that killed Mama Rosa and Jack and the kids. Those men were cold-blooded killers. From what this Rainor said, and from what we’ve been seeing lately, the agencies are on some kind of rampage. They were already hunting for psis, and even you were aware of the number of street people coming and going from Jack and Rosa’s house at all hours of the day and night. It was just a matter of time before this happened.” I wasn’t really sure that what I’d told her was totally true, but I wanted it to be.

As we drew closer to the big stone library building, Kelly noticed the small playground and tree-shaded park to one side. “Do you think it will be okay if I take the kids over there to play while you’re looking for your friend?” she asked hopefully.

I frowned and thought about it for a moment. Shrugging, I turned to Jennie, “Yeah, sure. I can’t believe that anyone would be looking for us here—I think it’s okay.”

Jennie cast a nervous look around at the assortment of students and adults coming and going from the facility and nodded her agreement. “I don’t see why they can’t, and it might be a good idea for them to take the dog too so that we attract as little attention as possible.”

Smiling broadly, Kelly grabbed hold of little Jon’s and Merry’s hands and bounced off toward the park. “Come on, Dusty, let’s play,” she called to the dog bouncing at their heels.